Guwahati, Feb. 7: Writer Lakhinandan Bora today declined to preside over the open session of Asam Sahitya Sabha's five-day centenary celebrations in Sivasagar district beginning tomorrow.

Bora said it would not be possible for him to preside over the session since the Sabha's general secretary (in-charge), Abanimohan Saharia, yesterday said the reception committee in Sivasagar should invite the Sabha's former general secretary Paramananda Rajbongshi for the celebration.

"Saharia not only invited Rajbongshi to the centenary celebration but also warned the reception committee of some consequences if they did not invite Rajbongshi," Bora said.

Bora was supposed to preside over the Sabha's session on Saturday.

Saharia's statement came at a news conference organised yesterday at the Sabha's Guwahati office where he was flanked by Bora.

Another former general secretary of the Sabha, Jagadish Patgiri, and a group of former office bearers today opposed the idea of Rajbongshi attending the celebration.

Bora said he took the decision after deliberating with the former presidents. He will reconsider his decision only after he is assured by the Sabha that Rajbongshi will not participate in the celebration, Bora added.

The Sabha now has seven living former presidents, two of whom have kept a safe distance from the controversies.

The main allegation against Rajbongshi by those who oppose his participation in the Sivasagar session was that he had run the Sabha in an autocratic manner and had changed the Sabha's rules to suit himself by keeping most office bearers and members in the dark.

Rajbongshi served the Sabha for four years as its general secretary and two years as its vice-president. He relinquished his post last month amid controversies.

"He may have relinquished his post but he is trying to run the Sabha from outside using his influence," said Patgiri.

But a section of Sabha employees has a different opinion of Rajbongshi.

"Rajbongshi was a good administrator who always stood by the employees. The Sivasagar session would have been a grand success which is now heading towards chaos," said a Sabha official.

An activist, who has been fighting for a separate slot for Assamese language in the Unicode consortium, told The Telegraph that Rajbongshi had always taken an active role in their fight for separate slot for Assamese in the consortium while many writers of the state were unaware what Unicode was.

On the other hand, various offices, stages, and gates are being given final touches at Jerenga Pathar, the venue of the centenary celebration, ahead of the inauguration tomorrow.

The Sabha hopes that representatives of different communities, literary bodies and writers from across the country will take part in the celebration.